Kankakee Times

Kankakee Valley Park District Board of Commissioners met April 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

The Committee Meeting was called to order at 5pm by President Hollis. Those present for roll call were Commissioner A. Hollis, D. Skelly (5:09pm), D. Tucker, M. Mullady, B. Spriggs. Others present: Dayna Heitz, Executive Director; Melissa Woodard, Superintendent of Recreation, Rick Collins, Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds, and Attorney John Coghlan.

Communications:

Written: Riverfront Trailways is having a Ribbon Cutting on April 12 for the Riverfront Trail Bridge

The Riverfront Plan has made some changes from the original plan and the price has gone down. There isn’t a taskforce meeting until May so not sure what the changes are.

Someone called today from the Journal regarding Fisherman’s Park and the removal of sand. Commissioner Spriggs saw someone there from Aqua removing sand. Commissioner Mullady asked when they would be hearing about the grant. Director Heitz said originally the end of April but more like July. Commissioner Skelly joined the meeting at 5:09pm.

Public Comment:

Old Business:

LeVasseur Park-

Discussed at the last meeting. Commissioner Spriggs said he was all about this at first. Love the park but now not sure what to think. Director Heitz said she agrees LeVasseur does need some help but not sure it’s in the best interest of the District to go with this project. We don’t have the time or means to manage it. This particular group isn’t servicing the community like the other sponsor groups are. They are a business. They are using their paying parents and that’s who is going to be doing the work. Commissioner Hollis said we talk about how we want things to look better. We want that park to look nice. Sensing there may be some backlash. They said do the work and give them a year. Come next year we would have an issue with him paying for the field. He is trying to compare himself with other entities. He said he is trying to bring baseball back to the community. Our community can’t afford his rates to play. Commissioner Skelly said isn’t he looking for a 5 year agreement? Yes. We will run into an issue if we allow him to do this for a year. After that he will be on the same agreement as those who rent River Road, just from what he said at the last meeting. Commissioner Skelly said most people know him and he’s positive and he has lots of good things in the community. Not sure what other sponsor groups put into the field. Over 5 years there is going to be a lot of things he will do. If we don’t do this deal, we have a run down park that no one is going to use. There are opportunities that he is going to provide programming for free to the district. At some point we have to get out and spread our wings. Just like the BMX, another group that wants to partner with us. The guy at Alpiner is spending a lot of time getting the fields ready. Commissioner Hollis agrees with getting the park better. It’s still our field and that would need to be in his contract if we wanted to do something about our property. Commissioner Skelly said we would only want to do something at that park after he cleans it up. It should be outlined in the contract. Commissioner Hollis said the classes that he talked about running need to be in the contract. Commissioner Spriggs thinks he needs to start only with 1 field. Commissioner Tucker said we talked about ownership. If it’s our field and someone said they want to use it, does that become a conflict because he’s doing the work? Commissioner Skelly said that’s their field, just like the other sponsor groups. Commissioner Tucker said the fields are still the park district field. This needs to be more of a sit-down meeting. If it’s a 5-year agreement it’s going to take longer to figure out. Commissioner Hollis said it needs to be brought to him that everything needs to be spelled out. Director Heitz talked about the situation from Alpiner where they thought we were renting the field out to someone else. Commissioner Spriggs said there should be signs on the fields that said they are a sponsor group. Commissioner Skelly said we should have everything spelled out for everyone. Director Heitz said we tried to make things simpler this year for sponsor groups. Attorney Coghlan suggested Director Heitz and Brian have a meeting with him and put together a proposed contract. Then the board could see the contract and things he wants to do. Commissioner Tucker suggested having a couple commissioners attend. Commissioner Hollis said we have someone from the community that wants to come in and help us make things better. We need to set some parameters otherwise we may run into an issue with him. Commissioner Spriggs said he’s not coming in to help us. He is here to help himself and don’t have a problem with it if we are going to benefit from it. His credibility is suspect. Commissioner Mullady asked about waivers. They all need to sign off on what we have volunteers sign. Commissioner Hollis said we need to let him know what he can and cannot do. Commissioner Skelly said maybe we have Brian sign a contract like Gerry. We would do all the work and he would pay for the fields. Brian is putting in equity instead. Commissioner Spriggs said whenever that field is fixed up we are going to get lots of calls of people wanting to use the fields. Commissioner Tucker said if we get 2 Commissioners to meet. Commissioner Hollis asked Director Heitz to set up a meeting with Brian, John and 2 Commissioners. Commissioner Mullady asked if the board was under the impression that he wanted this to happen asap? Yes. In the next couple weeks we need to have a meeting. John said putting together a comprehensive agreement is going to take awhile. Director Heitz said we would only be able to discuss at the board meeting what he’s looking to do. Won’t be able to take action yet. Director Heitz talked about the YMCA’s summer camp used the area next to the field.

New Business:

Department Reports-

Rick Collins: All the full-time maintenance crew is back now. Harbor is cleaned up. PSI is still working on Pioneer Building. Hope to start the roof on the Bird Park bathrooms tomorrow. Got some quotes for an aerator for the Quarry. Commissioner Mullady asked about the fountain that used to be in there? Director Heitz said we have the original float and electrical for the heavy duty one. That’s all we have though. There was a small one that the motor burned up but it wasn’t commercial grade. We won’t be getting an aerator. It’s pretty pricey. It’s $10,000 for a lighted aerator. We have good movement right now we don’t need it. Thursday we are getting the Rec Center gym floor resurfaced.

Melissa Woodard: Spring softball didn’t play last week because of the rain. Reviewed Gerry’s contact for the 2019-2021 season. All accounts are reconciled and up to date. Preparing new hire packets for seasonal staff. Interviews started today for seasonal staff. Working with Digital World on the new sign designs. Some signs have gone up. Ice Valley sign was replaced.

Angie Tousignant: Jeff and I met on April 2 to do summer schedule. 2-3 outside clinics will be coming. Working on flyers up to date and website and Rec Trac. Coyotes and Irish started spring league. Ice show is coming up. Summer schedule is set. Offering several classes through the day. Did schedule a yoga class. Kankakee Valley Open is September 30. Groups and rentals are still going strong. Commissioner Hollis asked about the Kankakee Valley Open. Are you using the KCCVB? There used to be funding and assistance.

Dayna Heitz: Director Heitz went through the financials. Commissioner Hollis asked why we have a BBQ account. We will close next year. Our auditors wanted to keep it open until the next audit is done. Where would that money go? Not sure legally where it would go.

Still working with the auditors and finance attorney regarding fund balances. We will be shifting a lot into corporate to chip away at the Rec Fund deficit.

We have a lot of line items and will be condensing on the next fiscal year. Commissioner Skelly would like p/l for all those. Don’t need to see fund part. Want to see warrant, credit card, check register, budget versus actual. How do you want to do the executive session minutes? Commissioner Tucker said we could come early to the meetings to view them.

Revenue is at 97% collected. We got the bond we didn’t plan for which is why it looks so good. We are doing very well. Still have a lot from the Coyotes to collect for Ice Valley. Replacement taxes will have another distribution. Our County taxes are down. Our expenses are in line with what we anticipated and we continue to cut things.

PNC had a charge go through on a cancelled card. Do have confirmation on the cancelled card. Disputed the charge and working to get it reversed.

Director Heitz went over the pictures of the signs.

Aroma Park is asking for 3 more sets of bleachers and another set at Alpiner. Would have to take bleachers from another park. Should we be providing 3 more? Alpiner needs work. They were told $50,000-$75,000 to get the field up to par. Things are getting intertwined but don’t want to do something for one that can’t do for another. Want things to be fair. Commissioner Hollis talked about years ago if a group wanted to paint and the District had paint, we would provide that and the group would do the work. Commissioner Hollis said there is no way we can put in the money. Commissioner Mullady said it’s in a flood plain. Could do all this work and then have another flood. Commissioner Spriggs said MLB has grants for work like this.

Commissioner Tucker asked if we have a plan to help us get grant money. Commissioner Mullady said there is an art to grant writing. Maybe we could have a professional come in and help out.

Commissioner Spriggs and Dayna will meet with the Cobb Park Restoration Project.

BMX has not contacted us back to remove the container. Commissioner Mullady said they have moved the Pork & Blues event to June. Then it won’t conflict with other events happening. The date change is advantageous.

Left a message for the Women’s Club regarding their sign.

John will notarize the liquor license info.

Will have some large checks to be signed due to insurance claims.

Water is turned on at various locations. Slowly getting the rest turned back on.

Got a call from KCC and they have a group of military who want to do a deployment family luncheon. KCC can’t accommodate. The Civic can handle 300. It’s all military and families. They go through what to expect during a deployment.

Does the District have an existing tree program? Family request.

Field 4 at Butterfield will be getting ball field mix.

Commissioners Forum:

Commissioner Spriggs asked Rick in the summertime will there be a list of where they go pick up trash? No, start in Aroma and work their way back. How is the hiring going? Just starting interviews right now.

Commissioner Tucker asked about the St. Martins and Civic parking, where is that? Been talking with the church. When we have a large event at the Civic, we will put out signs. Will communicate with the church so they are aware of the large events we have so they won’t park there. Commissioner Spriggs said we figured if we give the renters the option to put the signs out, it’s on them. Commissioner Hollis said so we are trying to keep the church from parking in our lot? Only for a large event. Some of the church are taxpayers and don’t think it’s even an issue we need to get into. There is other parking at the Civic. Commissioner Spriggs said what do you tell the people who rented the building? They rented the building. Commissioner Skelly said we are a public entity. Commissioners said when people come in and complain about parking issues, have them call the board.

Executive Session:

n/a

Adjourn Meeting:

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made at 7pm by Commissioner Spriggs, seconded by Commissioner Hollis. Upon voice vote, all ayes, motion carried.

Official Reports:

1. R. Collins

2. M. Woodard

3. A. Tousignant

4. D. Heitz

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kvpd/Minutes/2018/4-09-18+-+Committee+Meeting.pdf